12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Christian Freedom Applied Free to Serve: Christian Freedom Applied 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve God has graciously granted each one of us the privilege of Christian freedom. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve God has graciously granted each one of us the privilege of Christian freedom. We have the gift of Christian freedom only because Jesus Christ gave His life in sacrifice for us. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Romans 8:1-2 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Col 2:2-3 2My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Any application of our Christian freedom should bring glory to God. Free to Serve Principle One: Any application of our Christian freedom should bring glory to God. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Colossians 3:17 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 1st Corinthians 10:31-32 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Principle Two: Any application of our Christian freedom that influences or directly affects others should be motivated by genuine love and be edifying to them. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve 1st Thessalonians 5:11 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Romans 14:19 19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Principle Three: Any application of our Christian freedom should be preceded by careful study of the Word to determine what God specifically approves and forbids. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Free to Serve Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. II Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Principles of Christian freedom always apply in every single choice we make in living our Christian lives. Guidelines, on the other hand, are often relative and may speak more directly to some freedoms than to others and in some situations more than others. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve As we walk the Christian life together day-by-day, we frequently encounter circumstances where we learn that we have drawn more restrictive, or more inclusive, boundaries of freedom than those drawn by our Christian brothers and sisters. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Because of the relative nature of Christian freedom, the Bible tells us that the best initial response to any questionable situation is to follow our own personal conscience. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Don’t do anything your conscience tells you not to do. Free to Serve Guideline One: Don’t do anything your conscience tells you not to do. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Romans 14:5 5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Rom 14:22-23 22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

This is a hard teaching, but it comes from God. Free to Serve So, God’s official spokesman says, in effect, that deliberately violating one’s conscience amounts to sin – even if the specific act involved is not sinful in and of itself. This is a hard teaching, but it comes from God. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve While it is obvious that God intends that we should follow our conscience, we should not assume that it has some kind of sacred status. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve 1st Corinthians 8:7 7 But not everyone knows this. Some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat such food they think of it as having been sacrificed to an idol, and since their conscience is weak, it is defiled. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Our consciences, just like our personal faith in God, can develop and grow as we mature as Christians. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Romans 10:17 17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Logically then, our views of Christian freedom may change. Free to Serve As our faith grows and our understanding deepens, our consciences respond. Logically then, our views of Christian freedom may change. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve We will grow more harmonious in our service to each other and to our Lord only to the extent that we are willing to study, to grow, and to mature as Christians. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Guideline Two: Don’t do anything that might cause a brother or sister to violate his/her conscience. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Romans 14:13 13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. Romans 14:21 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve 1st Corinthians 8:9 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. Romans 15:1-3 1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve 1st Corinthians 10:31-32 31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Don’t use your Christian freedom to deliberately offend others. Free to Serve Guideline Three: Don’t use your Christian freedom to deliberately offend others. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve Philippians 2:3-5 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Free to Serve 1st Peter 2:16 16 Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. 17 Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Practical Consideration One: Free to Serve Practical Consideration One: Consider privatizing your freedom if you know that it disturbs others when it is exercised in public. Romans 14:22 22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Practical Consideration Two: Free to Serve Practical Consideration Two: Seek the counsel of fellow Christians regarding Christian freedoms. Be certain to not just seek out those who are likely to agree with you. Seek true counsel, not just confirmation of your own views. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Practical Consideration Three: Free to Serve Practical Consideration Three: Seek the counsel of the older, more experienced Christians when you have doubt. Hebrews 13:7 7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

Practical Consideration Four: Free to Serve Practical Consideration Four: Continually pray for wisdom that your attitude will lead you to correct decisions. James 3:17 17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

2 All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. Free to Serve Proverbs 21:2 2 All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart. The exercise of our Christian freedoms can be no more certain than the purity of our hearts. 12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan

12/26/2018 Joe M. Morgan